J.R. Smith’s list of potential suitors continues to grow but the contracts signed by two free agent shooting guards on Tuesday increases the likelihood of Smith returning to the Knicks.

The Clippers agreed to acquire J.J. Redick in a sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks while Oklahoma City Thunder free agent Kevin Martin verbally agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The maximum the Knicks can offer Smith, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, is a four-year contract starting at approximately $5.5 million per season.

Smith has told close friends that if the money is comparable his preference would be to re-sign with the Knicks. Still, some of the teams that contacted Smith’s representatives have the ability to offer a deal approaching $30 million. The Pistons, Mavs, Rockets, Bucks and Bobcats have all expressed interest in Smith, who is coming off his best season.

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With Redick and Martin setting the market for shooting guards, there is a sense that Smith’s free agency can reach a conclusion by the end of the week. The Knicks have made it known that they want their second leading scorer back and ideally they’d like to sign Smith to a two-year deal. But Smith, who came to the Knicks midway through the lockout season during a tumultuous stint in China, is looking to be rewarded for his performance and loyalty.

The fact that both Carmelo Anthony and Garden Chairman James Dolan are both in Smith’s corner is a factor to say the least. Dolan, according to a source, was briefed on the club’s free agent negotiations on Tuesday. Dolan has been more involved in the day-to-day operations of the basketball side since 2010 when he was front and center during the Knicks free agent presentation to LeBron James.

Report: Pistons make offer for Raptors’ Gay

When the Grizzlies traded Rudy Gay as part of a three-team deal with Memphis, Detroit and Toronto, the Grizz came out of the deal with Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye. The Raptors ended up with Gay, who played 33 games for them and — on a points-per-game basis — finished as their top scorer. But apparently the Pistons originally wanted Gay in the first swap, so they’ve solicited the Raptors to try and get him again, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:

The Detroit Pistons were among the bidders for forward Rudy Gay when the Memphis Grizzlies made him available last season and they are once again going after him now that there’s been a management changeover in Toronto.

The Pistons have offered the Raptors the expiring contracts of Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva in an attempt to acquire Gay, league sources told ESPN.com.

Stuckey and Villanueva are both scheduled to make $8.5 million this season and Gay has two years and $37 million left on his contract. Gay averaged 19.5 points on 43 percent shooting in 33 games after a midseason trade sent him to Toronto.

Rockets trying to land J-Smoove and Dwight?

Our man DavidAldridge touched on this overnight, but it seems that what Howard does in free agency may have a direct effect on what Hawks free agent Josh Smith does as well. USA Today’s Sam Amick reports on Smith, who has long been on the Houston Rockets’ radar. Houston is also actively pursuing Howard and is thought to have a good shot to land the All-Star center. And while some have reported Smith is a backup plan for Houston should it lose out on Howard, that may not be the case:

According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the Rockets’ Monday meeting with free agent forward Josh Smith in Los Angeles included a discussion about a possible partnership with him and his childhood friend from Atlanta in Howard.

Smith has long been known to be on the Rockets’ radar, but he is not viewed solely as a backup plan to Howard should he decide to sign elsewhere and the possibility remains of another superteam being created with Howard and Smith joining franchise centerpiece James Harden. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.

There would be serious hurdles to this sort of deal, but the Rockets may be able to get it done if they could convince Smith’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks, to take part in a sign-and-trade that would clear the necessary salary cap space to sign both players.

To that end, a CBSSports.com report on Sunday indicated that the Rockets have been discussing possible trades involving center Omer Asik and point guard Jeremy Lin with other teams. Both players are scheduled to earn $8.3 million in each of the next two seasons, meaning they could possibly be moved as a way to free up the funds to bring Howard and Smith together.

Howard completed his free agency meetings on Tuesday by meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. He met with the Rockets first on Sunday night, followed by Golden State and Atlanta on Monday and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday before the Lakers. Smith is also being targeted by the Detroit Pistons and is believed to have at least five suitors.

Suns-Clips trade spells trouble for Marshall

Kendall Marshall was the 13th overall pick of the 2012 Draft and the third point guard (behind Rookie of the Year winner Damian Lillard and the Pelicans’ Austin Rivers) off the board that night. However, he struggled to find minutes with the Suns and even had a nine-game stint in the NBA D-League. The Suns’ acquisition of Bledsoe from the Clippers in last night’s trade may only spell more bad news for the second-year guard, writes Bob Young of The Arizona Republic:

The Suns won’t say it, but we will.

The Kendall Marshall draft pick last season was a mistake.

Then again, maybe the Suns did say it by taking part in a three-team deal first reported by Yahoo! Sports to obtain a quick, athletic point guard in Eric Bledsoe and veteran small forward Caron Butler from the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns sent Jared Dudley to the Clippers, who once played in his hometown. The Milwaukee Bucks, the third-team in the deal, ship guard JJ Redick to the Clippers and get second-round draft picks in exchange.

This isn’t to say that Marshall, who was selected when Lance Blanks served as general manager, doesn’t have a place in the Suns future. It’s just that it’s probably as the team’s third point guard.

That would never happen. a) Kevin Love for Nash and Metta will NEVER HAPPEN. When he is healthy, Love is a star!!! b)Ricky Rubio is Minnesota’s future PG!!!!! Trading him for Steve Blake and a draft pick?!!!! are you crazy??!!!!! These trade scenarios will NEVER happen!!! The only possible trade is MAYBE a sign and trade deal with Josh Smith for Pau Gasol. Those other trades are just crazy!!!!! It’ll never happen!!!

Howard does not stay in LA cant handle spot light or being the blame for a coaching change and a loseing season injurd or not he doesnt want to be the blame for anything . Next subject cp3 doc rivers griffen deep bench I smell playoffs for years to come maybe even a ring or 2 when they start to play D LOOK OUT NBA LoB city coming in hot next subject eric Gordon really good when he is healthy and is motivated the issue is he’s not motivated and not healthy long enuff to be a factor pelicans trade him get back a C in return someone who is a project maybe cody zeller bobcats need scoring and maybe MJ can bring out the best in gordon and he can become a true star there then palican can start rivers he’s a 2 anyways they got holiday at PG that’s line up in NOLA is a better one then they got now next subject J smooth I can see him in Houston before I see DH there in a fantasy world I would love to see atl pick howard and resign smith with horford what a front line just lock up the back court with shooters good luck driving in the paint Teague is going to be a very good PG they need a shooting gaurd I’m done be back later take in what I think and comment

I can see a trade like this happening, both Stuckey and Villanuava have expiring contracts. The Lakers could use the cap space in next years Free Agency. Plus unloading Pau, Metta and even Morris is a great thing for the Lakers!!!

I think that you all have to do some research! Chris Copeland is young and athletic, how many players can you say that about? A large percentage. He has proven to be a good fit in NYC, so yeah I would try and keep him because his minutes and role player situation work out well. That being said, Gordon for Gortat sounds and looks to good to happen. Also, Toronto does have a star player in Rudy Gay and I bet my next paycheck he is gone either this season or next. I think if Indy snags solid role players who can come in and play knowing they are off the bench guys unless somebody gets hurt, Indy can actually beat Miami. That’s another problem though. You go to the trouble of signing a guy who may be in the prime of his career like JR Smith who is coming off of career numbers he is going to want the ball, you would too if you were them.

Robinson is looking for a “big contract” after a good season with the Chicago Bulls. Robinson can easily be worth anywhere from 6m-9m/year. Plus I think he’s done being a backup unless he has guaranteed minutes off the bench. I think the Cavaliers should sign Aaron Brooks or Patrick Beverly as Kyrie Irving’s backup.

I hope to god that Toronto doesn’t accept the offer from the Pistons. They FINALLY have another star to help build their roster and they’re accepting trade offers?! If I were Toronto, I wouldn’t accept, heck I wouldn’t even entertain offers for Gay because they just got him!! and with Lowry and DeRozan at the guard positions and a improving Valanciunas(not sure if I spelled that right), Toronto finally has a decent roster that could actually make the playoffs. They just got rid of Bargnani’s big contract(which was a necessity, he hasn’t played well in a while and is injured alot) so now they need to find a solid PF that can defend and rebound because Gay and DeRozan and even Lowry on occasions can score a good amount of points. I’d say they should try to get Josh Smith, But I don’t think the Raptors have the cap space needed, and I doubt Smith would consider the offer unless it was a near-max deal. I’m not sure who the Raptors should get to play PF full-time but I guess its going to be Amir Johnson until the Raptors get someone better. As a final thought, I’d like to see the Raptors sign undrafted prospect Jackie Carmichael. He’s a solid PF, a bit under-sized but he is incredibly athletic, he’s a good defender and rebounds consistently too. The only thing the Raptors would need to work on with him is his jump shot and knowing where his teammates are on offense. I think the Raptors would be a good pick for him. Just my opinion though.

You obviosuly arent a knick fan cause a blind man can see copeland is a disaster. THeir best chance of winning is getting stoudamire another 100$ million dollar contract and keeping chandler. Iman shumpert is a knee tearing guard who doesn’t have any offense. if you ask me the knicks will be this years version of the celtics. 32-52 record for knics this year I called it FIRST!!!

u r obviously a blind person what has stoudemire done but take pictures with his wife with no defensive or offensive help. Amare is a knee tearing bigman. shumpert just teared his knee once and chandler hasn’t had a good effect in the playoffs. he hasn’t helped at all. we obviously need Copeland cause honestly who is gonna back up melo in scoring once jr smith leaves. u r not a knicks fan and u need help.

Even a blind man can add 32 + 52 = 84. Since when are there 84 games in a season? Surely you are the first and only one calling this because nobody’s that dumb. And your post makes no sense in terms of the Knicks’ chances of winning.